O’Brien Contractors Limited has made substantial progress on the next phase of critical earthworks at Fairham, one of the East Midlands’ largest and most ambitious mixed-use developments. The earthworks are a key part of the delivery of the remaining residential parcels at Fairham, a transformative new neighbourhood on the edge of Nottingham. Once complete, Fairham will offer 3,000 new homes, over one million square feet of employment space, and 200 acres of open green space, creating a balanced community where people can live, work, and thrive. Delivered by O’Brien Contractors on behalf of master developer Clowes Developments, in partnership with Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, the earthworks are part of a wider £100 million infrastructure investment across the 606-acre site. Earthworks includes: These operations pave the way for future construction activity and are expected to be completed by the end of October 2025, subject to weather conditions. Rob Hopkinson, Technical Associate Director at Clowes Developments commented, The progress achieved at Fairham reflects a significant collective effort from all parties involved. Completion of this phase of earthworks will unlock substantial parcels of land ready for residential development, marking a pivotal step forward in the delivery of this landmark scheme. Once these works are finalised, we will be positioned to complete the remaining roads, sewers, and key landscaping phases, further advancing the creation of a sustainable and well-connected community. Fairham is being designed as a sustainable and highly connected community. Alongside residential and employment zones, plans include a local centre, new education and healthcare facilities, sports and leisure amenities, and a safeguarded route for a future NET tram extension. To support this major development, Clowes Developments and Homes England continue to work in close coordination with National Highways, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, and Rushcliffe Borough Council to deliver infrastructure improvements with minimal disruption to existing transport networks. Once fully developed, Fairham will make a significant contribution to regional growth—delivering thousands of homes and jobs, and supporting Rushcliffe Borough Council’s housing target of 13,500 new dwellings by 2030. With its strategic location, integrated design, and focus on sustainability, Fairham is setting a new benchmark for modern, mixed-use communities in the East Midlands. Keep track of the progress onsite at Fairham, here: https://fairhamlife.co.uk/news/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Orbit Homes is continuing its drive to deliver quality, energy efficient homes in Suffolk with plans to bring 220 new homes to Reydon at its new development, Copperwheat Place. Over half of the homes at Copperwheat Place will be affordable homes with 118 for affordable rent and Shared Ownership, alongside a further 84 for market sale. 11 homes will be available as self-build plots and 7 homes will be for those impacted by or at risk of coastal erosion. The development will feature a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom houses, and one, two and three-bedroom bungalows. The homes will be built to Orbit Homes’ sector-leading design and safety standards, which have been matched against the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Safer by Design framework to limit the most common hazards found in a home. All homes at Copperwheat Place are also planned to include several features to support energy efficiency as standard, including Air Source Heat Pumps, electric vehicle charging points and enhanced cavity insulation. The scheme will be designed to embrace sustainability and biodiversity, supporting Orbit Group’s biodiversity commitment to enable nature’s recovery in 30% of its outdoor spaces by 2030, and will include public spaces, a children’s play area and connecting footpaths to new and existing walkways. Copperwheat Place will also include at least one nature positive feature for every new home built, as part of Orbit Homes’ commitment to ‘Homes for Nature’, a five-year initiative from the Future Homes Hub dedicated to increasing wildlife on all new developments. Homes for Nature measures include bird nesting boxes, hedgehog highways and nature friendly planting. Construction is set to begin in autumn 2025. Ray Winney, Regional Managing Director for Orbit Homes in the East, commented: “We are delighted to announce plans to bring 220 quality, energy efficient new homes to Suffolk at Copperwheat Place in Reydon. This development continues our investment in the region and will deliver much-needed new homes in a mix of tenures to support the local housing need. “Copperwheat Place is designed to be a sustainable new community, providing customers with energy efficient homes and attractive green spaces for residents to enjoy which help wildlife thrive. We’re excited to see this site progress over the coming years.” Copperwheat Place is situated in Reydon, a village offering the best of both worlds with its stunning countryside location and the bustling seaside of Southwold just a mile and a half away. Copperwheat Place joins several developments that Orbit Homes is currently delivering in Suffolk, including Homestead Park in Stonham Aspal, Weavers Grove in Bildeston, Brickmakers Place in Woolpit and Harolds Gate on the Norfolk-Suffolk border in Harleston. For more information about Copperwheat Place and to register your interest, visit: www.orbithomes.org.uk/copperwheat-place Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Newcastle’s last major brownfield site is finally set for transformation following government approval of a £122 million regeneration package for Forth Yards. The funding will cover remediation, groundworks and key infrastructure works needed to resolve long-standing land constraints that have delayed progress for decades. Once complete, the project will unlock the potential for up to 2,500 homes alongside new commercial space and high-quality public realm. The regeneration effort is being driven by a partnership between Homes England, Newcastle City Council, Network Rail and the newly formed North East Mayoral Combined Authority. Together, they aim to turn Forth Yards into a thriving new district at the heart of the city. A pivotal element of the scheme will be Quayside West, one of the largest plots within the site, capable of delivering more than 1,100 homes. Acquired into public ownership last year, it will form the cornerstone of a new mixed-use neighbourhood located just a short distance from Central Station and the River Tyne. The funding announcement marks the start of the next phase, with a development platform to be established before a private sector delivery partner is procured later this year. At the same time, public sector partners will continue to accelerate activity across the wider site, ensuring momentum is maintained. The regeneration of Forth Yards is being hailed as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape a long-neglected part of Newcastle, creating homes, jobs and community space while reconnecting the city with its riverfront. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Thakeham, one of the leading housebuilders in the south of England, has been granted planning permission for the Land East of Catherington Lane site in Horndean from East Hampshire District Council. This follows on from the housebuilder receiving a resolution to grant planning permission from the council’s Planning Committee in January this year. The proposed plans for Land East of Catherington Lane include up to 109 new zero carbon ready one to four-bedroom homes, 44 of which are affordable across varying tenures, a 40% provision in compliance with planning policy. Each home is expected to feature an air source heat pump, dedicated electric vehicle charger and PV solar panels to reduce its carbon emissions well beyond the requirements of building regulations. Working for an onsite biodiversity net gain of more than 10% for the local natural habitat, the landscape-led scheme will create a new sustainable edge of village community. Early discussions with Horndean Parish Council highlighted the importance of open space. The northern part of the site – totalling 17.9 acres – will be landscaped as green public open space for leisure and recreation, while preserving the green gap between Horndean and Catherington. Multiple pedestrian access points will be available to this green space, while new play spaces are planned throughout the development to encourage children to spend time outdoors. Other elements of Land East of Catherington Lane include cycling and pedestrian links, a significant number of new planted trees and a new access road from Catherington Lane. Tristan Robinson, Thakeham’s Director of External Affairs, said: “A comprehensive consultation process was undertaken for this development, with a high level of public interest and engagement in our proposals, so we’re pleased that East Hampshire District Council has approved our plans and granted us planning permission. There were nearly 1,600 households on the housing waiting list across East Hampshire between 2022 and 2023, reflecting the clear requirement for additional housing across the district. Land East of Catherington Lane will help to address this need by delivering much needed sustainable new homes.” Land East of Catherington Lane is located approximately 1km north west of Horndean village centre and east of Catherington Lane, which links to the A3. This proximity provides the development with a solid connection to cities and towns including Portsmouth, Guildford, Petersfield and Havant. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Award-winning homebuilder Spitfire Homes has acquired a prominent 1.28-acre site in Edgbaston, Birmingham, the latest addition to its expanding Bespoke Collection of high-specification residences. Planning permission has been secured to redevelop the site into a collection of design-led, sustainable homes. Site clearance and demolition works will begin immediately, with construction expected to begin later this year.  The scheme will feature a mixture of one- and two-bedroom apartments, alongside four-bedroom semi-detached townhouses, reflecting Spitfire’s signature approach to thoughtful design and contemporary living. A selection of properties will be delivered through the First Homes Scheme to support local housing needs. As part of the scheme, Spitfire will also contribute more than £100,000 towards local community infrastructure.  Matt Vincent, Operations Director at Spitfire Homes, said: “Our decision to return to Edgbaston is a strategic one, building on the success of our previous scheme at Beaufort and the growing demand for high-quality, design-led homes. This latest acquisition strengthens our commitment to expanding our Bespoke Collection in the region’s most desirable postcodes, delivering contemporary living with exceptional architectural detail. We see strong, long-term potential in Birmingham’s premium suburbs and are actively seeking new opportunities across the Midlands that align with the vision of our growing portfolio.” Adrian Willet from Furlong Land Limited added: “Harrison’s Road is an outstanding brownfield site on one of Edgbaston’s most prestigious roads, and the planning permission secured by Calthorpe Estates earlier this year has unlocked its full potential. Furlong Land was proud to act as selling agent, and we’re pleased to see the site now in the hands of Spitfire Homes. With their track record for delivering distinctive, high-specification schemes, we’re confident they will create a truly exceptional development that reflects the quality of this location.” Located within walking distance of Edgbaston Village and Harborne High Street, the new scheme will offer residents a rare opportunity to buy in one of Birmingham’s most prestigious postcodes known for its top-rated schools, independent restaurants and local parks. The site also benefits from excellent transport links into Birmingham city centre. For more information on Spitfire Homes, visit: https://spitfirehomes.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Birmingham, Thursday 31st July 2025 – Pension Insurance Corporation (“PIC”), a specialist insurer of defined benefit pension schemes, and Court Collaboration, a Birmingham-based specialist residential property developer, have confirmed Sectional Completion of Tower B at the hotly anticipated One Eastside BTR development in the city. The completed phase means 140 new homes, including one and two-bedroom apartments, will now become available for rent just a stone’s throw from the £1 billion HS2 station at Curzon Street. Once the second phase is completed in 2026, One Eastside will feature a total of 667 high-quality new homes for rent, with state-of-the-art co-working spaces and a range of amenities for residents, including a cinema room, sky lounge, spa and gym. PIC forward funded the £200 million One Eastside development in 2023 and will own it for the long term. Court Collaboration is delivering the development, which at 51 storeys (Tower A) will be the tallest building in Birmingham. PIC’s investment strategy is carefully constructed to deliver robust, index-linked cash flows that match future pensions payments it its policyholders. PIC has invested more than £14 billion in UK infrastructure and housing. These assets are generating social value up and down the country, driving economic growth and job creation. Rob Groves, Chief Investment Officer at PIC, said: “We are proud to have reached another milestone in our One Eastside development, with 140 of the total of 667 high-quality homes made available for rent in the heart of Birmingham. One Eastside will be the tallest building in the city and help pay the pensions of our policyholders for decades to come.” Alex Neale, Chief Executive Officer at Court Collaboration, added: “We’re really proud to see the first homes becoming available at One Eastside, representing another exciting milestone for this development. Huge thanks go to PIC and the vast team of contractors and consultants who have helped us make this scheme a reality. Now it’s onwards and upwards for the remaining sections of the overall project.” The new homes will become available from this summer. Enquiries can be made by emailing leasing@oneeastside.co.uk, calling 07812408381 or for more information, please visit www.oneeastside.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A new hybrid planning application has been submitted to Cherwell District Council (CDC) for the remaining residential development at Graven Hill. The original outline planning permission was granted in 2014. The new planning application seeks permission as follows: Hybrid planning application comprising: It has been prepared by Graven Hill Village Development Company (GHVDC) and its technical team, for the remainder of the development. It is called a hybrid planning application as it is both a full planning application for part of the site and an outline planning application for the remainder; apart from one small site adjacent to Anniversary Avenue East, where full planning permission is applied for 34 residential units, the application is in outline. There are currently up to 1,329 dwellings under the hybrid/outline, including the 34 applied for in full. An outline application does not determine the location, design or layout of each individual building, play areas or space, it simply seeks a decision on the general principles of how a site can be developed. The application includes parameter plans and a masterplan; this is indicative and is subject to change as part of the subsequent Reserved Matters planning application processes for each phase. These later Reserved Matters applications will provide details on the appearance, means of access, landscaping, layout and scale. Extensive public consultations were held regarding the new hybrid application. These ran from November 2022 to February 2023, and during February 2024 and March 2024, culminating in consultation feedback in October and November 2024. As well as public events, respondents could review, comment and ask questions via an online portal. There were also presentations and meetings with CDC, Oxfordshire County Council, Create Streets, the Graven Hill Residents’ Association (GHRA) and the independently appointed team of experts on the Design South East design review panel. In order to respond to feedback received during this pre-application consultation process, updates have been made to the masterplan and a comprehensive Design Code accompanies the Design and Access Statement and establishes site-wide and street type character area design requirements. This Design Code provides a framework for the detailed design, materials, layout, scale, access and landscaping of development irrespective of the designer, or whether the housing is self-build, market or affordable housing. It also supports the Design Review Panel’s feedback that, while not over-restricting architectural freedom, it sets guidance and design requirements for how building lines, car parking, boundary treatments, landscaping, planting and trees should be coded. It is an extensive update to the previous Stage 1 document and includes: Other changes made to respond to feedback as the masterplan evolved included: Adrian Unitt, Managing Director of GHVDC, said: “We’ve welcomed the opportunity to engage with the local authority, GHRA, residents, Create Streets and the independent Design Review Panel.  The team has worked hard to respond to the feedback we’ve received through the design process, with LSH preparing a comprehensive Design Code. “This is an outline application which sets out key parameters for the remaining development rather than determining the detail and we look forward to further engagement through the application process.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A striking new addition to Belfast’s waterfront is on the horizon, as Belfast Harbour Commissioners (BHC) move forward with plans for the latest phase of the City Quays development. Contractors are now being invited to express interest in the design and construction of City Quays 4 – a landmark 23-storey residential tower that will bring 256 apartments to the heart of the city. A formal contract notice has been published, marking the next step in the regeneration of Belfast’s historic docklands. The £50 million scheme will include a 12-storey adjoining element and boast a gross floor area of approximately 20,400 square metres (219,585 sq ft). The design features piled foundations and a reinforced in-situ concrete frame, complemented by glazed windows and external cladding to create a contemporary urban profile. Construction is slated to begin in February 2026, with completion targeted for November 2028. The procurement route will follow a two-stage novated design and build process, beginning with a nine-month pre-construction services agreement (PCSA), followed by a 24-month construction phase. City Quays, a £275 million regeneration initiative, has already delivered three Grade A office buildings – City Quays 1, 2 and 3 – reshaping Belfast’s waterfront with modern workspaces and public realm improvements. The introduction of residential development in phase four marks a major step towards a more mixed-use, vibrant city quarter. With this next tower, Belfast’s skyline – and its ambitions – continue to rise. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals